Polis: Unvaccinated state workers must get 2 tests a week

DENVER (AP) — Gov. Jared Polis has announced that state employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 will have to be tested twice a week for the coronavirus and continue to wear masks indoors in public spaces.

The Colorado Sun reports Polis made the announcement Friday, citing the rise of the extremely contagious Delta variant of the virus and similar direction for federal workers announced by President Joe Biden on Thursday.

State workers who are or get fully vaccinated won’t be required to get the twice-weekly tests, Polis said in a statement. Employees who are tested must submit the results to human resources officials.

“I have heard from state employees who are terrified that their unvaccinated co-workers will give them COVID-19 and want vaccination mandated, and from other state workers who have hesitation towards the vaccine,” the Democratic governor said in emphasizing he was seeking a middle ground.

The new policy is effective Sept. 20. It covers about 30,000 state government employees who fall under the authority of the executive branch. It does not apply to judicial branch workers.

Polis said his administration could revoke the policy based on future disease transmission levels and vaccination rates.